Myanmar dissidents get up to 65 years

YANGON, Myanmar, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A court in Myanmar handed out prison terms of up to 65 years Tuesday to a diverse group of about 40 dissidents, an opposition publication reported.

The Irrawaddy magazine said that its information came from relatives of those sentenced. The longest terms were given to 14 members of 88 Generation Students.

The military junta ruling the country once known as Burma has been handing out longer and longer prison terms, the magazine said. The sentencing reportedly occurred in Insein Prison, in Yangon, the former Rangoon.

Others received shorter terms, including five monks from the Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery in Yangon. They were reportedly sentenced to six years and six months each.

A musician, Win Maw, and an HIV activist, Than Naing, received six year sentences. Su Su Nway, a workers' rights activist, got 12 years.

The 88 Generation dissidents were defiant when they heard the sentences, The Irrawaddy said, citing sources. One replied to the sentence by asking, "Only 65 years?"

A blogger was sentenced Monday to 20 years.